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Hossein Derakhshan: Prisoner of the day

Blogger serving 19-and-a-half-year prison sentence

CPJ: On December 30, 2008, a judiciary spokesman confirmed at a press conference in Tehran that Derakhshan, a well-known Iranian-Canadian blogger, had been detained since November 2008 in connection with comments he allegedly made about a key cleric, according to local and international news reports. The exact date of Derakhshan’s arrest is unknown, but word of his detention was first reported on November 17, 2008, by Jahan News, a website close to the Iranian intelligence service. The site claimed Derakhshan had confessed to “spying for Israel” during the preliminary interrogation.

Known as the “Blogfather” for his pioneering online work, Derakhshan started blogging after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. A former writer for reformist newspapers, he also contributed opinion pieces to The Guardian of London and The New York Times. The journalist, who lived in Canada during most of the decade prior to his detention, returned to Tehran a few weeks before his detention, The Washington Post reported. In November 2009, the BBC Persian service reported that Derakhshan’s family had sought information about his whereabouts and the charges he faced, and expressed concern about having very limited contact with him.

In September 2010, the government announced that Derakhshan had been sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison, along with a five-year ban on “membership in political parties and activities in the media,” according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and other sources. Derakhshan has spent much of his imprisonment in solitary confinement at Evin Prison, according to multiple sources. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, citing a source close to the journalist’s family, said Derakhshan had been beaten and coerced into making false confessions about having ties to U.S. and Israeli intelligence services. Since his arrest, Hossein Derakhshan has only been allowed a few days of furlough on very high bail.

This is a March 2010 clip in which Derakhshan's brother is interviewed about his brother's situation several months before his sentencing:

23-Dec-2011
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Bavafa

Doorood bar tamame Iranian e mobarez...

by Bavafa on

No one who has spoken or written against this criminal regime has been immune from imprisonment or worse death.   

A sustain campaign in support of all political prisoner for their unconditional freedom is a duty of all freedom seeking Iranians.

  My hat off to all of these prisoners for their bravery and principal.

 

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad


choghok

Close to Khamenei family

by choghok on

This guy is a family friend of Khamenei and Khamenei himself has been to his wedding with his former wife. He was also a Ahmaghinejad supporter once.

That said It does not make the injustice any less, but we have to remember these facts too. It is probably a personal vendetta from Khamenei rather than spying.


Bahram G

Truth is criminal offense

by Bahram G on

Under the rule of the Islamist creatures. Only lies and excrements the pour out of their rotten minds are allowed. When will enough upright Iranians share the burden of sweeping away the mullah pigs and their paid OOBAASH? And for how long our best, prisoners of conscience, must individually pay the heavy price of speaking the truth and defending freedom of expression. Mullahs, you are the worse of the worst that has diseased our nation. Brave sons and daughters of Iran shall assuredly put a permanent end to your criminal rule.


Darius Kadivar

EXACTLY amirkabear4u

by Darius Kadivar on


particularly when in CHEAP Company 

 خلاصه دیدار ساندیس خورها بهمراه زیرنویس

 

Cheers ! 

 


amirkabear4u

EXACTLY DK

by amirkabear4u on

That is why one must keep the COSTS DOWN by being "anonymous".


Darius Kadivar

A Reminder to all ANONYMOUS IC contributors ...

by Darius Kadivar on

Freedom of Speech has a Price !